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Badlands 12k won’t freespool

MSFTMatt

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I’m sure this has been covered but I cannot find it. ENGAGE/FREESPOOL knob spins freely even with the set screw fully tightened. The IN/OUT on the remote works but the freespool won’t engage, or disengage? Either way, anyone have an idea as to what’s up?
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NULL POINTER

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The second one I bought was almost impossible to pull line out in the freespool setting. I could power the line out, but not freespool it without heavy effort. I took it back to HF and got a third one. I have no issues with the freespool/engage setting on this one. The first one I bought was the easiest to freespool, should have taken it off when I sold my JLUR.

Are you sure your knob is in all the way? Probably is if the set screw is in all the way.
 

NC_Overland

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The only issue I have with mine is sometimes it doesn’t let me slide the lever over to free spool, but if I just tap the remote to go in either direction then it slides over and free spools just fine. That might be normal. It’s my first winch.
 

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@NC_Overland covers it. So often the clutch won't fully engage or disengage without a little spin

If you pull the power and try to hand spin the drum do you hear the gear movement? If yes not fully disengaged
 

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The only issue I have with mine is sometimes it doesn’t let me slide the lever over to free spool, but if I just tap the remote to go in either direction then it slides over and free spools just fine. That might be normal. It’s my first winch.
Installed my APEX BADLANDS 12K last week and had to do the same thing to get it to unlock was to electrically bump the spool and then it would unlock and I could free spool it then.
 

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NULL POINTER

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Installed my APEX BADLANDS 12K last week and had to do the same thing to get it to unlock was to electrically bump the spool and then it would unlock and I could free spool it then.
Normal for these winches. Upon rereading, I think OP is saying his knob turns freely to and from freespool, but he can't pull the line out except by spooling it out with the remote. Not normal, I had to take one back to HF because the only way I could freespool it was by hooking it up to my lawn tractor with the knob in the freespool position and pulling the line out with the tractor. Not practical if needed on the trail. Well, I guess I could load the tractor in the bed.😈
 

Mr Miami

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Normal for these winches. Upon rereading, I think OP is saying his knob turns freely to and from freespool, but he can't pull the line out except by spooling it out with the remote. Not normal, I had to take one back to HF because the only way I could freespool it was by hooking it up to my lawn tractor with the knob in the freespool position and pulling the line out with the tractor. Not practical if needed on the trail. Well, I guess I could load the tractor in the bed.😈
You had better check your vehicles GVWR (which includes the curb weight of the vehicle, weight of occupants, cargo and lawn tractor).
 

Stingray 5517

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I’m sure this has been covered but I cannot find it. ENGAGE/FREESPOOL knob spins freely even with the set screw fully tightened. The IN/OUT on the remote works but the freespool won’t engage, or disengage? Either way, anyone have an idea as to what’s up?
Well I asked the same question on a prior thread. I found that I had reinstalled the knob improperly and after a few changes it works as it should. I felt pretty dumb. Check the simple things first before placing blame on the winch like many times it turns out to be the dummy behind the wrench 🔧.
 
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MSFTMatt

MSFTMatt

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Well I asked the same question on a prior thread. I found that I had reinstalled the knob improperly and after a few changes it works as it should. I felt pretty dumb. Check the simple things first before placing blame on the winch like many times it turns out to be the dummy behind the wrench 🔧.
I certainly qualify as the dummy behind wrench. Do you remember how you eventually reinstalled the knob correctly?
 

Stingray 5517

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I certainly qualify as the dummy behind wrench. Do you remember how you eventually reinstalled the knob correctly?
I just loosened the set screw and took off the knob . I think I had the internal knob in the incorrect position. I reinstalled the knob and re tightened it and it was corrected. Not sure I explained that for you. But I guess when I removed the knob after cutting it to fit some how I had it backwards.
 

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MSFTMatt

MSFTMatt

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I just loosened the set screw and took off the knob . I think I had the internal knob in the incorrect position. I reinstalled the knob and re tightened it and it was corrected. Not sure I explained that for you. But I guess when I removed the knob after cutting it to fit some how I had it backwards.
Thanks man, I’ll have to dick around with it some more
 

Stingray 5517

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Thanks man, I’ll have to dick around with it some more
Good luck, I think I had the internal knob in engage mode and when I reattached the external knob I had it backwards and the set screw wouldn't tighten so it stayed engaged? Hopefully this makes sense.
 
 







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